Senior Political Affairs Officer, P-5

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Policy Planning Unit (PPU), within the Policy and Mediation Division (PMD) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The incumbent of the post, who performs the duties of Team Leader for the Policy Planning Unit, reports to the Chief of Policy and Guidance and to the Director of PMD.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Formulates political affairs strategies; develops a vision or direction for work; proposes policy options to address immediate and long range political challenges; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the mandates of the Department; analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and policies;
• Plans and implements the work of the Unit, in line with DPPA’s strategic plan, on policy issues in support of DPPA’s conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy mandate; develops innovative policy responses to emerging threats to international peace and security;
• Plans, coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participation;
• Prepares briefing notes and talking points, analytical papers, and Secretary-General reports as requested by the Secretary-General, Under-Secretary-General/Assistant Secretary-General, intergovernmental bodies or undertaken as part of the work of the Unit;
• Assists with major policy planning tasks related to the core functions of the Department;
• Coordinates and consults with Secretariat departments, field missions, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and Member States;
• Leads and directs the work of the Policy Planning team and coordinates its work with other units; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit and across organizational boundaries;
• Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises research, and develops policy options, on a variety of issues including in relation to conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, new and emerging threats, and special political missions;
• Represents the Department/Division at round tables, seminars and conferences;
• Responds to/prepares responses to comments, statements, queries of parties and manages operations involving several components, including civilian, military and humanitarian operations;
• Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the unit and participates in the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Unit/Division or mission; coordinates and oversees work of colleagues and unit;
• Develops and maintains relations with academia, research centres, think tanks, foreign policy forums and NGOs;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Expert knowledge of United Nations work in the area of peace and security, particularly in conflict prevention and peacebuilding; thorough understanding of policy planning practices and UN inter-agency processes; familiarity with research on global peace and security trends; comprehensive knowledge of the work of UN intergovernmental bodies; understanding of UN budgetary processes. Ability to evaluate international political situations in area of assignment. Ability to manage and coordinate many different levels and participants in operations in both the field and UN common system. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• COMMUNICATION: Expert drafting and editing ability. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required;
• Experience in policy planning, including policy analysis and development, is required;
• Experience in conceptualizing, researching, drafting and implementing policy documents is required;
• Experience in networking with academic, research organizations and think tanks in the area of international peace and security is required;
• Experience in results-based budgeting and/or extra-budgetary funding is required;
• Experience working with or on special political missions is required.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of other United Nations official languages is an advantage.

Application instructions

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